What You Can Change... and What You Can't* by Martin E. P. Seligman: Book Cover
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What You Can Change... and What You Can't*: The Complete Guide to Succesful Self-Improvement: *Learnig to Accept Who You Are by Martin E. P. Seligman

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(Paperback - Reprint)

  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Pub. Date: January 1995
  • ISBN-13: 9780449909713
  • Sales Rank: 124,162
  • 317pp
  • Edition Description: Reprint
 
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Synopsis

True or false?
* Dieting down to your "ideal" weight will prolong your life.
* Reliving childhood trauma can undo adult personality problems.
* Alcoholics have addictive personalities.
* Psychoanalysis helps cure anxiety.
If you think any of these statements are true, get rready for a shock. In the climate of self-improvement that has reigned for the last twenty years, misinformation about treatments for everything from alcohol abuse to sexual dysfunction has flourished. Those of us trying to change these conditions often experience the frustration of failure, mixed success, or success followed by a relapse. But have you ever asked yourself: can my condition really be changed? And if so, am I going about it in the most effective way?
In this meticulously researched book, Martin Seligman, distinguished psychologist and bestselling author of LEARNED OPTIMISM, helps us realize clearly and realistically exactly what we can change and what we can't. Grounding his conclusions in the most recent and most authoritative scientific studies, Seligman pinpoints the techniques and therapies that work best for each condition, explains why they work, and discusses how you can use them to change your life. Inside, you'll discover:
* The four natural healing factors for recovering from alcoholism
* The vital difference between overeating and being overweight, and why dieters always gain back the pounds they "lost"
* The four therapies that work for depression, and how you can "dispute" your way to optimistic thinking
* The pros and cons of anger, and the steps to take to understand it
* And much more!

Annotation

In the climate of self-improvement that has reigned for the last 20 years, misinformation has flourished. Grounded in the most recent and authoritative studies, this book pinpoints the techniques and therapies that work best for conditions in virtually every area of self-improvement, explains why they work, and shows how anyone can use them to change their life.

Customer Reviews

What You Can Change... and What You Can't*: The Complete Guide to Succesful Self-Improvement: *Learnby Anonymous

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September 21, 2007: Some psychological disorders can't be fixed readily whereas various forms of anxiety can be treated and resolved. This book is helpful to the lay person. I also recommend Learned Optimism, another book by this distinguished author.

What You Can Change... and What You Can't*: The Complete Guide to Succesful Self-Improvement: *Learnby Anonymous

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September 28, 2002: In this book, Dr. Seligman concludes that the influence of childhood environment and experiences on adult personality "is surprisingly small, particularly when compared to the effect of genes on adult personality" (except for extremes). Indeed his conclusion is consistent with a lot of psychological research. But as the great personality psychologist Alfred Adler argued long ago, it is the individual's attitude toward her or his heredity that is of the most significance. That is why, for the key dynamics of optimism and pessimism, there truly are helpful insights in the provocatively titled book by psychologist Julie Norem, "The Positive Power of Negative Thinking." Individuals differ greatly, and each one of us can change only some things, but we can also change our mental and emotional attitudes toward what remains. The psychology of individualized optimal cognitive strategies adds to our chances of attaining life satisfaction, which Dr. Seligman would call "Authentic Happiness."


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